Abstract: In the preparation of a carboxylic acid by the carbonylation of an olefin in the presence of hydrofluoric acid catalyst, the hydrofluoric acid is isolated from the carboxylic acid by means of an ion-permeable membrane and the thus-isolated hydrofluoric acid can be recycled to again catalyze the carbonylation reaction.

Abstract: A method of producing methyl formate from methanol and carbon monoxide using an anionic transition metal catalyst including a metal selected from Fe, Ru, Os, W, Mo, Cr, Co, Rh and Ir. The reaction is characterized as a low pressure reaction conducted at a pressure less than 3,000 psia and using concentrated anhydrous methanol solutions and, preferably neat methanol. The catalyst can be a mixed metal catalyst including a second metal selected from Group VIII metals. The reaction is highly selective towards methyl formate and excellent turnover numbers are obtained using these catalysts.

Abstract: A method for recovering isobutyric acid from a solution thereof in concentrated aqueous hydrogen fluoride, the latter having served as the reaction medium for effecting the carbonylation of propylene. The method features the partial removal of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride from said solution to provide an aqueous phase of reduced hydrogen fluoride content from whence the isobutyric acid is extracted with optimum efficiency with an immiscible organic solvent.

Abstract: Method for exhaustively alkylating the amine content of an imidazoline product prepared from a higher fatty acid and a dialkylene triamine wherein the protonated species formed in the course of the alkylation reaction are repeatedly neutralized, followed in each instance by reaction with an essentially equivalent amount of the alkylating agent based on the free amine present until the starting amine content of said product is predominantly converted to quaternary ammonium derivatives.

Abstract: A fatty acid is converted to the corresponding carbon length alcohol by the liquid phase hydrogenation of the carboxylic acid in the presence of a co-catalyst system consisting essentially of activated rhenium metal in combination with an extrinsic metal catalyst in the form of one of the platinum metals.

Abstract: A class of hydrocarbyl substituted 8-hydroxyquinolines wherein the indicated substituent arises through the direct alkylation of said quinolinol with a ketone obtained by condensing methyl ketone with a hindered aldehyde. These alkylates are useful metal collectors in hydrometallurgical extraction processes designed for the recovery of metal values from dilute aqueous solutions thereof.